MA Weather: First 'Major' Snowstorm A Weekend Possibility

First thing's first: This weekend is still several days away, and forecasters are quick to tell inquiring minds that nothing is set in stone that far out. That being said, the first significant snowstorm of the winter could be in the cards for this weekend.

There are two possibilities for snow over the next seven days. The first is later this week - Thursday night into Friday - when at most a couple inches will fall, according to AccuWeather. The National Weather Service agreed that there could be some snow showers late this week.

But the system to keep an eye on is the one that would follow over the weekend, when AccuWeather says a "major storm [is] likely to bury parts of ... Northeast." There are no amounts given, but presumably the shovels would be dusted off.

Forecasters still don't know the track this will end up taking, and the storm could end up being a load of freezing rain and wintry mix or a serious snowfall.

The National Weather Service said this Monday about the potential for a weekend snow storm: "It is still 6 days away and lots of changes can occur. Bottom line is that it is too early to even express a confidence on next weekend."

Patch will update you as the forecast solidifies.

Boston has only had 0.2 inches of snow since Oct. 1. The tail end of winter would need to see a serious dumping of snow for this to be an average snowfall winter.

Whatever ends up happening with the snow this week, expect things to get a bit colder at the end of January into February.

"In the wake of the weekend storm, much colder, Arctic air is projected to plunge southward across the eastern half of the nation," AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok said.

Boston-area forecast via NWS

Tuesday - Increasing clouds, with a high near 32. Light northwest wind.

Tuesday night - Mostly clear, with a low around 20. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph after midnight.

Wednesday - Sunny, with a high near 37. West wind 6 to 9 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Wednesday night - Mostly clear, with a low around 15. West wind 5 to 7 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Thursday - Sunny, with a high near 27. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the morning.

Thursday night - Snow likely, mainly after 3am. Cloudy, with a low around 21. Light southeast wind. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday - Snow likely, mainly before 8am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38. Light and variable wind. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday night - Partly cloudy, with a low around 18. Northwest wind around 5 mph.

Saturday - A chance of snow after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 29. Light north wind. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Saturday night - Snow before 4am, then snow and sleet. Low around 22. East wind 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Sunday - Rain, freezing rain, and sleet. High near 34. North wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Sunday night - Snow, freezing rain, and sleet likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 9. Northwest wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

M.L.K Day - Mostly sunny, with a high near 19. Northwest wind around 9 mph.

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